STATE OF THE ‘STRIPES: The Yankees have won two straight but are 6-6 in their last 12. Their magic number is five.

STATE OF THE SOX: Boston also has won two straight. They are 2-2 on a seven-game road trip. Boston is 21-8 since Aug. 23. Their magic number for the wild card is three.

STATE OF THE RACE: The Yankees lead Boston by 5.5 games in the American League East. The Yankees have 10 games left, the Red Sox 11. The Yankees, Dodgers (92-61) and Red Sox have the three best records in baseball.

STATE OF THE RIVALRY: Boston lead 9-6 this season with three games left. There have been two distinct segments. The Red Sox won the first eight games and outscored the Yankees 55-31. The Yankees are 6-1 since and have outscored the Red Sox 54-37.

JOBAMANIA: Ah, yes, here we go again with young Mr. Chamberlain. The newly minted 24-year-old is 1-4 with an 8.25 ERA in his last nine starts, allowing opponents to hit .327 with a .409 on-base percentage against him. While Joe Girardi has said Chamberlain will be on the postseason roster, Brian Cashman has suggested that he needs to earn his way on.

Tonight would be a good place to start. Joba was wretched against Seattle on Sunday, giving up seven runs in three innings then talking cheerfully about how well he threw the ball. He is 1-1 with a 5.06 ERA against Boston this season. Joba has allowed nine earned runs on 13 walks and 21 hits in 16 innings but does have 19 strikeouts against Boston.

The Yankees are hoping to get him to six innings tonight. Then again they were hoping to get him to five against Seattle.

TURNAROUND: Jon Lester was 3-5 with a 6.07 ERA in his first 11 starts of the season. The left-hander is 11-2, 2.13 since. He last faced the Yankees on Aug. 9 and allowed one run over seven innings with seven strikeouts. Lester is 3-0, 3.11 in seven career starts against the Yankees.

THEY’RE HOT: Cano is 19 of his last 48. … Teixeira was 10 of 23 on the road trip with six extra-base hits and six RBI.

THE LEADERS: A few AL statistical races that could be impacted this weekend:

UPDATE, 6:03 p.m.: The Yankees now say that Joe Girardi mis-spoke about the rotation for the KC series. It’s actually:

Burnett
Gaudin
Chamberlain

So perhaps they’re not necessarily lining up Pettitte for Game 2. But they still could.

UPDATE, 6:08 p.m.: Here is Joe Girardi’s pre-game press conference. He got a little animated defending Joba and their use of him:

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UPDATE, 7:09 p.m.: The president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, threw out the first pitch to Mariano Rivera. He was wearing jeans, sneakers and a Mo jersey.

UPDATE, 7:10 p.m.: We are underway in a breezy Boogie Down. Enjoy the game.

UPDATE, 7:20 p.m.: Strong first inning for Joba. If he can pitch well today, that would answer the only real question the Yankees have before the postseason.

UPDATE, 7:55 p.m.: Nine up and nine down for Joba. He’s answering all the questions so far. Best part for the Yankees: He has thrown only 36 pitches.

UPDATE, 8:04 p.m.: Two more RBI for A-Rod as he crushes a Lester pitch to left field. That’s 92 on the season. Could be get to 100?

The Yankees can’t clinch anything tonight. But being up 6.5 games with eight games left is pretty much a done deal.

UPDATE, 8:16 p.m.: Jon Lester took a line drive off the right kneecap and almost certainly will be leaving the game. The ball was off the bat of Melky Cabrera. He is being attended to by several trainers.

UPDATE, 8:17 p.m.: He’s leaving under his own power, which is good to see. Rivalries aside, you don’t want to see anybody get seriously injured.

UPDATE, 8:36 p.m.: Joba’s perfection lasted 3.2 innings. Victor Martinez just drilled a pitch into the Yankees bullpen. But the Yankees lead 5-1.

UPDATE, 8:49 p.m.: Good news for Jon Lester, x-rays were negative and he has a contusion on his quad, which is the area right above the knee.

UPDATE, 9:12 p.m.: Big inning there for Joba as he was able to escape a jam. This has been a hugely positive outing for him.

UPDATE, 9:33 p.m.: Joba had a chance to end his night on a real positive, then Ortiz homered. But it’s still a quality start and he hasn’t had one of those in a while. Have to start someplace.

UPDATE, 9:44 p.m.: Season-high six steals for the Yankees … That’s four RBI for A-Rod tonight.

UPDATE, 10:04 p.m.: Yankees taking this game seriously. Dr. Ronan Tynan just sang the extra-long, “We’re more patriotic than you are” version of God Bless America.

UPDATE, 10:33 p.m.: Jonathan Albaladejo making an already excruciating game even longer. Man, he is dreadful.

UPDATE, 10:46 p.m.: The Red Sox have officially given up, sending in assorted subs. You can figure on the Yankees doing the same in the ninth.

UPDATE, 10:49 p.m.: Posada walked and when Freddy Guzman pinch ran, he took second on defensive indifference.